Combination main and pilot valve



Oct. 23, 1951 A MlLLER' COMBINATION MAIN AND PILOT VALVE Filed Aug. 25, 1947 MILLER PILOT ON MAIN OFF Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION MAIN AND PILOT VALVE Avy L. Miller, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor to Mission Appliance Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 25, 1947, Serial No. 770,487

8 Claims. (01. 158138) burner associated with the valve and so arranged that should the pilot burner flame be extinguished, the valve is caused to close both the main and pilot supply lines, then in order to reset the valve the valve must be first manually manipulated to a position in which the supply to the main burner is closed, in order to reignite the pilot burner, then only after the pilot burner has reheated the thermostat can the main supply be turned on, thus providing a valve in which the main supply cannot be opened unless the pilot burner is in operation, thereby minimizing the danger of explosive accumulations of gas in the apparatus associated with my valve. Y

Second, to provide a combination main and pilot valve for heating appliances which in proportion to its functions is simple of construction and compact in design so as to facilitate its use with appliances having limited space for such valves.

Third, to provide a combination main and pilot valve in which a valve body journals an outer plug valve core which in turn journals an inner plug valve core, the plug valve cores being arranged to move independently and in unison to eflect control of the pilot and main burner supply.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, references are directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my combina tion main and pilot valve.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the outer valve core.

Figure 3 is a similar perspective view of the inner valve core.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the valve with the connecting supply lines shown fragmentarily.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the end of the valve opposite from that shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve taken through 66 of Figure 5.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are composite diagrammatical sectional views each taken through the plane of the pilot burner control passage and the plane of the main burner control passage to illustrate the relative positions of the corresponding valve ports in the inner and outer core members, the

views being taken in the same direction as Figure 4.

A valve body I is provided which is shown in the form of a rectangular block. A tapered bore is formed in the valve body and receives an outer plug valve 2. The outer plug valve 2 is provided with a socket entering fromits larger end and in which is fitted an inner plug valve 3.

The valve body is provided with a main burner passage 4 in diametrical relationship with the plug valves 2 and 3. One end of the main burner passage 4, in the drawings the upper end, is connected to a main supply line and the other end of the passage 4 communicates with the main burner of an appliance to be controlled by the valve. The valve body is also provided with a pilot burner passage 5 in diametrical relationship with the plug valves 2 and 3 but preferably in a horizontal plane, that is, at right angles to the main burner passage. The outlet end of the passage 5 communicates with a pilot burner 6. The inlet end of the passage is counterbored to receive a meter valve 1 and a sealing cap 8. A supply passage communicating with a supply line 5a enters the upper end of the valve body and communicates with the pilot burner passage 5.

The outer plug valve is provided with diametrically disposed main valve ports 9 and the inner plug valve is provided with a main valve port I0. The valve ports 9 and ID are adapted to register with each other and with the main burner passage 4. Similarly, the outer plug valve 2 is provided with diametrically disposed pilot valve ports I l and the inner plug valve is provided with a pilot valve port [2. a

For purposes which will be brought out hereinafter the outer plug valve is provided with a pilot valve channel I3 which traverses one of its pilot valve ports and terminates in spaced relation to its other pilot valve port.

The smaller end of the outer plug valve 2 is provided with a stem M at the extremity of. which is secured a handle IS. The stem l4 receives a spring it which bears between the han dle I5 and a plate I! overlying the end of the valve body so that the outer plug valve is yieldably retained in the valve body. The handle 15 as well as the plate I! are suitably keyed to the stem M by means of a flat at one side of the stem. The handle is additionally secured by a cross pin whereas the plate I! is axially slid-- able.- The plate I! is provided with a slot l8 in its periphery, the extremities of which form shoulders which engage a stop pin l9 protruding fro m the valve body, In theconstruction shown the outer plug valve is limited to approximately a 90 movement between an on and an "0133 position.

The inner plug valve 3 protrudes from the larger end of the outer plug valve 2 and is provided with a cross pin 20. A torsion spring 21 is wrapped about the protruding end of the in nor plug valve. One end of the torsion spring is connected to the cross pin 20 and the other end of the torsion spring is anchored to a stop pin 22 protruding axially from the outer plug valve. The torsion spring exerts a force tending to cause the cross pin 20 to bear against the stop pin 22. As will be brought out more particularly hereinafter the main and pilot'bore's of the plug valves 2 and 3 are out of registry when the cross pin 20 engages the stop pin 22.

One extremity of the cross pin 20 is pointed and is adapted to be restrained by a leaf spring 23 secured to the side of the valve body from which extends the .pilot burner :6. Supported by the pilot burner 6 is a thermally responsive rod 24. The extremity of the thermally responsive rod is anchored "to the extremity of the pilot burner by a bracket fitting 25. Guide brackets 26 also support the thermostat rod and permit axial expansion and contraction relative to the pilot burner. The thermally responsive rod is constructed of material having a relatively high coefficient of expansion. The free end of the thermally responsive rod terminates adjacent the valve body and is provided with an adjust able head positioned to engage the leaf spring 23 when the thermally responsive rod is heated and press the extremity of the leaf spring toward the valve body and the cross pin 20. The head 21 is So adjusted that when the thermally responsive rod is cold the :spring 23 is free to move clear of the extremity of the cross -pin 20. When the thermally responsive rod 2-1 is heated by flame from the pilot burner the leaf spring is urged to a position in which it may engage and restrain the cross pin 20.

The cross pin '28 and adjacent exposed parts are protected by a suitable guard -or shield 28.

Operation of the combination main and pilot valve is as follows:

My valve is mounted in series with another thermostat control valve responsive to predetermined temperature conditions for turning on and off the main burner. When my valve is in its on position and in operation, that is, when the pilot burner is functioning, the valve parts are in the position shown in Figure '7, that is, the cross pin 2|] isso restrained by the leaf spring 23 that the main valve ports 9 and 10 as well as the pilot valve ports ll and I! are in registry and in communication with the main burner passage 4 and pilot burner passage respectively.

Should the pilot burner be extinguished the thermally responsive rod 24 will contract, causing the leaf spring '23 to release the cross pin 29 so that the torsion spring 2! may function to turn the inner plug valve 3 relative to the outer plug valve 2 until limited by the stop pin 22. This movement causes the main valve port In and pilot valve port I2 of the inner plug valve to move out of registry with the corresponding ports in the outer plug valve as shown in Figure 8.

In order to reset the valve it is necessary to turn the outer plug valve to its 'off position by operation of the handle l5 as shown in Figares. doing so the cross pin 20 is urged able drive connection between said cores tending,

by the stop pin 22 back to a position for engagement by the leaf spring 23 so that upon heating of the thermally responsive rod the cross pin may again be restrained. When the outer plug valve is in its oil position, determined by the handle [5, its main valve ports 9 and pilot valve ports H are out of registry with the corresponding ports of the inner plug valve as Well as the passages in the valve body. However, as shown in Figure 9, supply to the pilot burner is maintained by reason of the channel l3 which by-passes the pilot valve port l2, thus when the main valve is in its oil position the pilot burner may be reignited; then after the thermally responsive rod 24 has heated sufliciently to cause the leaf spring 23 to retain the cross pin 20 the main valve may be turned to its on position so that the parts of the valve again assume the position shown in Figure '7.

The protruding end of the inner valve core 3 may be covered by a guard 28 secured to the body I. The guard prevents axial movement of the inner core. The guard 28 may be formed of sheet material and portions may form a stop 29 engageable with the cross pin 20 to limitexcesstravel irrespective of the position of stop 22.

In order to retain the main valve core in either extreme position as determined by the notch 1-8 and stop 19, a small pin 30 may be set in valve block 'I under the plate H to engage suitable recesses therein as shown in Figure 6. Thus pin 30 keeps the outer core from rotating when cross pin 20 is not restrained by the leaf spring 2-3.

While I have described the preferred embodiments of my invention, I am not limited to any of the details herein set forth except as described in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A valve structure for controlling main and pilot burners, comprising: a valve body defining a valve bore and main and-pilot supply passages intersecting said bore and adapted to comm-unicate respectively with main and pilot burners; an outer valve core journalled in said valve bore and defining an inner valve bore and transversely directed main and pilot ports; an inner valve 'core fitted in the bore of said outer valve core and having transversely directed main and pilot ports; yieldable means tending to turn said inner valve core relative to said outer valve core "to close said main burner ports; a thermally responsive element adapted to respond to said pilot burner for restraining said inner valve core in a position of registry with the passages in said valve body.

2. A valve structure for controlling main and pilot burners, comprising: 'a valve body; 'an'oiiter valve core journalled in said valve body; aninner valve core journalled in said outer valve core; said valve body and valve cores defining main and pilot burner passages adapted to be closed by movement of either of said'valve cores; yieldable means urging one of said cores relative to the other core to a position closing said main and pilot burner passages; and thermally responsive means for restraining said yieldable means.

'3. A valve structure for controlling main and pilot burnersycomprisirlgr a valve'body: an outer valve core j'ournalled said valve body: an inher valve core iournalled in "said-'outervalve 'core; said valve body and valve cores defining 'main' and pilot burner passages adapted to be closed Evy-movement of either'of said valve cores; a yield acme-74 to position the passages therein in non-registering relation thermally responsive means adapted when heated to restrain one of said cores against the urge of said yieldable drive connection, thereby to dispose said core passages in registry, said drive connection operable to return said one core to a position for re-engagement by said thermally responsive means when the other of said cores is moved to a position closing said main burner passage; and means defining a by-pass around said pilot burner passage when said one valve is in its thermally responsive means engageable position and said other valve has closed said main burner passage.

4. A valve structure, comprising: a valve body; an outer valve core journalled in said valve body; an inner valve core journalled in said outer valve core; said valve body and valve cores defining independent main and secondary passageways; a drive connection between said valve cores including spring and stop means tending to position said main and secondary passageways therein in non-registering relation; manual means for placing at least the main passageway of said outer core in registry with the main passageway of said valve body; and thermally controlled means for restraining said drive connection and holding said passageways of said cores in registry.

5. A valve structure comprising: a valve body defining a valve bore; an outer core rotatable therein and defining an inner valve bore; an inner core rotatable in said outer core; drive means between said cores including stops and a spring urging said cores to relative positions limited by said stops; means for turning said outer core whereby said inner core under urge of said drive means tends to rotate therewith; thermally responsive control means for restraining rotation of said inner core; said body and cores defining independent main and secondary passageways, traversing both of said cores; and a bypass channel in the periphery of said outer core communicating with said secondary passageway for bypassing said inner core when said main passageway is closed by said outer core.

6. A valve structure comprising: a valve body; an outer core extending through said valve body and having a handle at one end and a core socket at the other end; an inner core fitting said core socket; yieldable drive means between said cores tending to urge said cores to a predetermined relative position, said valve body and cores defining a main passageway and a secondary passageway so disposed that predetermined movement of said inner core under urge of said,drive means closes both said secondary and main passages; thermally responsive means for restraining said inner core against said move- 6 ment, said drive means operable to reset said inner core to its predetermined position relative to said outer core upon turning the outer core to a position closing said main passageway.

7. A valve structure for controlling main and pilot burners, comprising: a valve body defining a valve bore; an outer core extending through said valve body and having a handle at one end and a core socket at the other end; an inner core fitting said core socket; said cores having axially ofiset diametrically extending main and pilot valve ports, and said body defining main and pilot ports adapted to register respectively with said main and pilot valve ports and adapted to communicate respectively with a main and a pilot burner; yieldable means coupling said cores and tending to dispose the ports of said cores in non-registering relation; a catch pin carried by said inner core; thermally responsive means for latching said pin to restrain said inner core in position with its ports in a position of registry with the ports in said valve body whereby movement by said handle of said outer core relative to both said inner core and valve body will open and close flow passages through said main and pilot valve ports in said valve body.

8. A valve structure, comprising: a valve body; a manually movable outer valve core rotatable in said valve body; an inner valve core movable in said outer valve core; said valve body defining main and secondary passages, and said valve cores defining ports interposed in said passages; an axial pin protruding from said outer core; a transverse pin carried by said inner valve core engageable with said axial pin when the ports in said valve cores are out-of-registry; yieldable means tending to hold said pins in engagement; and means for restraining said inner core in a position of alinement with the passages of said valve body, whereby said outer core may be manually moved to open and close said valve body passages.

AVY L. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 903,158 Anderson Nov. 10, 1908 1,054,020 Mouquette Feb. 25, 1913 1,124,872 Day Jan. 12, 1915 1,962,776 Kenney June 12, 1934 2,011,073 Neldner Aug. 13, 1935 2,201,398 Grayson May 21, 1940 2,362,011 Kefiers Nov. 7, 1944 2,384,314 Koppel Sept. 4, 1945 

